EP1478851B1 - Offshore wind park - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to wind parks comprising at least two wind energy turbines and in particular to offshore wind parks. The aim of the invention is to provide a wind park in which transports between individual wind energy turbines are less dependent on weather conditions and are more reliable. To achieve this, at least one cable connection (10) is provided between at least two of the wind energy turbines (12) of a wind park and a container (14) is located on said cable connection (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a wind farm having at least two wind turbines, and more particularly to an offshore wind farm such wind turbines are known from US-A-6 294 844.

The wind turbines in wind farms are spaced apart such that a collision of Rotorblättem is avoided even with rotating wind safely and influencing the wind turbines is kept as low as possible by changing the flow conditions of the wind. Depending on the radius of the circle swept by the rotor of a wind energy plant, this can already be rotor diameters of more than 100 m in the prior art, and with increasing dimensions of new wind turbines the distance becomes even greater.

Regardless of location and size, each wind turbine requires maintenance and, in the event of failure, removal of the same. For this, personnel and material must be transported to the wind turbine.

While it is relatively easy for wind farms on land to bring personnel and material to each wind turbine, this is already associated with much greater effort for offshore wind farms. It already means a simplification to land goods such as tools, spare parts, etc. and people in one place, instead of having to start each wind turbine of a wind farm individually.

This results in the problem of the distribution of landed goods or generally the transport of goods and / or persons between wind turbines a wind farm and in particular an offshore wind farm.

Under the premise that a wind farm has a central berth to which all goods and people arrive or depart, they must therefore be transported between the wind turbines of the wind farm.

Especially offshore wind farms are characterized by the fact that the weather there is always rougher than on land. The wind can blow freely and quickly reaches high speeds.

In addition, more or less high waves are always expected. Transporting the goods and translating persons to the individual wind turbines is therefore often not only uncomfortable, but even entails a considerable risk, even practically impossible with high wind forces.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a wind farm in which the maintenance of the individual wind turbines of the wind farm can be performed reliably and this maintenance can also be carried out when rough weather prevails over several days and weeks.

This object is achieved with a wind farm with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the subclaims.

The wind farm according to the invention not only consists of a large number of wind turbines, but also has a separate offshore platform on which people responsible for the maintenance of the wind farm are able to live and work. It can be assumed that such an offshore platform is equipped in such a way that the people staying there can stay there for several weeks and take care of themselves. This also requires the equipment of the offshore platform with a corresponding "social" environment, ie the establishment of bedrooms, lounges, kitchen, hobby, etc.

Now, if at higher wind speeds, the operator needs to one or the other plant to do there any maintenance or service work, these wind turbines can preferably via the cable car connection which emanates already from the platform, can be achieved. This eliminates any kind of ship or helicopter transport and at the same time can also be transported via the cable car connection the maintenance and service material.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the platform can also be set up with an electrolysis system so that water can be broken down into its constituents hydrogen and oxygen by means of the stream produced by the wind energy plant by means of electrolysis. The hydrogen thus generated, but preferably also the oxygen are stored in corresponding gas tanks (the platform) and can then be transported by ship or by pipeline on land.

Such hydrogen / oxygen productions may be particularly useful under certain circumstances, if fuel cell drives should prevail for vehicles, because in such a case, there will be a very large demand for hydrogen, which can be safely generated by the invention on the high seas, without the Production in any way endanger facilities on land, such as buildings, housing estate, etc.

If necessary, in addition to a single offshore platform, multiple platforms may be formed, so that in addition to a residential platform, there is also a so-called hydrogen production platform. Should it ever come to an accident on the production platform, the staff still has the possibility to safely withdraw to the residential platform.

In such a case, of course, the individual platforms themselves should be connected to each other by means of a corresponding cable car connection.

The cable car connection is usually provided with a motor drive. For safety reasons, it is also advantageous that the cable car transport can still be performed even if the power should have already failed. Such a manual drive could be performed by means of appropriate means that can be operated by human power.

In the cableway connection or the cable connection, the cable preferably runs at a height that touches neither the rotor diameter of the wind turbines nor comes into contact with wave crests, so that even at high sea any shipping traffic can not get into collision with the cable connections.

At each wind turbine as well as on the platform, a deflection device for the cable connection may be provided, wherein the cable connection runs as an endless cable along the deflection and the gondola is firmly connected to the cable connection. The nacelle can thus be moved by moving the cable connection in the desired direction and the structure is very simple.

In two interconnected wind turbines, the cable connection runs around each wind turbine around the deflection and is returned to the other system.

If the cable connection connects at least three wind turbines to one another, the deflection device serves as a support on the middle wind energy plant and the cable connection is continued to the respective outer wind energy plant.

The movement of the cable connection can be made by a motor and preferably by an electrically operated motor. This is particularly advantageous because electrical energy is generated in the wind farm and is therefore readily available and thereby the transport of other energy sources such as fuel is unnecessary. Also, electric motors can be controlled easily.

The cable connection is expediently made of a support cable and a pull rope. The nacelle is indeed stored on the carrying cable, but movable relative to this. The pull rope is attached to the nacelle. Pulling the traction cable according to the desired direction of travel moves the nacelle along the support cable in the desired direction. This pulling the traction cable can be motorized. As drive energy is advantageously used electrical energy.

The deflection device preferably consists of two independently rotatable deflection rollers, wherein the support cable is guided over a roller and the tension cable via the other roller. In this case, the traction cable can be designed as a circulating endless rope, while the carrying cable can be provided only once along the route passable by the nacelle. Through the endless Pulling cable suffices a direction-reversible drive for the hauling rope to move the nacelle in the desired direction, and on the winding device for the traction cable at both ends can be dispensed with.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the nacelle moves on its own power along the support cables. In this case, a motor drive and preferably an electric motor drive may be provided, wherein the energy supply to drive the motor in an energy storage such. B. an accumulator is provided in the nacelle.

A manual drive can be provided as an alternative to the motor drive or additionally as an emergency drive to move even in case of failure of the engine or the energy supply, the gondola in emergency mode.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive power is supplied via the cable connection or the carrying cable, the pull cable and / or a separate conductor in the electric nacelle drive. In this case, control signals from a remote control on this way to the gondola and / or a tower can be transmitted to z. B. to control the drive motor or a winch or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, z. B. transmitted telematics data to a central facility or multiple wind turbines. In addition, a communication of all wind turbines of the wind farm, between which the cable car is provided to be handled with each other and with the nacelle on the cable connection.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, this communication, ie the transmission z. From telematics data, control signals, etc. between individual wind turbines of the wind farm and / or the gondola take place at least partially wirelessly.

The leadership of the cable connection can be done in different ways. A simple way is the string principle, in which all wind turbines like "strung on a string of pearls" are interconnected by the cable connection. The cable connection connects as a single continuous cable connection in a predetermined order at least a portion of the wind turbines together.

However, the wind turbines can also be placed in several rows, z. B. in three rows, and the cable connection runs z. B. in the form of the letter "S" between the wind turbines and connects the systems with each other.

An alternative variant of the cable guide is a star-shaped arrangement of the cable connection, starting from a central device, the z. B. represents a central landing point, so as to reach all other wind turbines in a shortest possible way.

Another variant is a reticulated cable guide, which not only provides the shortest possible connection from a central wind turbine to the other wind turbines, but forms relatively short distances between all wind turbines.

In order to keep the horizontal deflection of the nacelle to the cable connection low or to prevent within certain limits during the journey of the nacelle between the wind turbines of a wind farm, the wind park according to the invention in a preferred development on a tether, the parallel in a given vertical distance the cable connection is provided. The distance is calculated so that the nacelle is guided between the cable connection and the tether. The cable connection preferably runs above the nacelle and the tether below the nacelle.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention can be used in a cable designed as an endless cable one (upper) part of the endless cable connection, the gondola while the other (lower) part of the endless cable connection takes over the function of the tether.

In an alternative embodiment, a flywheel rotating about a vertical axis is used to stabilize the nacelle. This flywheel is driven by a motor and acts as a gyro counter to any horizontal deflection of the nacelle.

Preferably, each wind turbine of the wind farm in your tower on a lockable door. This door is located substantially at the height at which the nacelle reaches the wind turbine. As a result, loading activities are possible without having to overcome a height difference.

In a preferred development, the wind turbines and the nacelle have a lock which allows the nacelle to be fixed in the loading and unloading position so that vibrations of the nacelle relative to the tower of the wind turbine are prevented in this position. In this case, the lock is preferably designed so that a part of the lock near the door on the tower of the wind turbine and the other part is provided at a suitable position on the nacelle. Particularly preferably, the lock is a two-point locking, in order to avoid the formation of a pivot point in a lock at only one point.

This lock can preferably act electromagnetically and be switched on or off by pressing a switch inside the tower and / or from the gondola. As a result, a comfortable and safe handling even without the risk of injury by a fluctuating gondola, which may be z. B. collided by wind action with the tower, possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock is fembedienbar and particularly preferably designed by remote control of the nacelle, so that a manual intervention can be avoided. As a result, a latent risk of injury when handling the lock is further reduced.

Particularly preferably at least at a wind turbine above the opening, a substantially horizontally extending cover is mounted, which carries on the side facing away from the tower a substantially vertical and at a predetermined distance parallel to the cable connection extending protective wall. Through the cover and the protective wall, which include a predetermined angle, a protective roof is formed, which protects the nacelle in the opening and the opening itself from the weather. Thus, the nacelle or the opening on the one hand by the tower itself and the other by the canopy is protected so that even if the side in which the opening is formed, the windward side, the wind is shielded and the nacelle is not against the Tower pushes.

Due to a sufficiently long design of the canopy, a corresponding deflection of the gondola and thus a possible collision with the tower can be avoided even in wind or wind components transverse to the direction of travel of the gondola.

In this case, the horizontal distance of the outer ends of the first protective wall to the tower is preferably greater than the horizontal distance of the central portion of the protective wall. In this way, a collision between the nacelle and the protective wall is prevented even if the nacelle z. B. is deflected horizontally by side wind to the protective wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention can be mounted on both sides of the opening parallel to the protective wall and at the same height on the tower more protective walls that extend a slipstream of the tower so far that a wind component transverse to the direction of travel of the nacelle does not push against the outer barrier , In this case, the horizontal distance between the protective walls in the region of the tower can substantially correspond to the width of the nacelle and widen towards the lateral ends of the protective walls, so that a vertical deflection of the nacelle in the area of the entrance between the protective walls does not lead to a collision between the nacelle and one of the protective walls leads.

The nacelle itself may preferably be provided with elastic coatings in the lower area of the nacelle cabin at each of the corners, and thus at the locations where a collision with other wind farm facilities is to be obtained first, when the nacelle is deflected horizontally. On the one hand, these coatings dampen a possible collision and thus prevent damage to the nacelle and the other facilities of the wind farm, and on the other hand can serve as buoyancy aids to keep the nacelle afloat in the event of an accident.

At the same time as or instead of the elastic coating on the nacelle, such a coating can also be provided on the protective walls, in particular in the retraction area, at a height in which a horizontally deflected nacelle first collides with the protective wall.

Particularly preferably, a first web is provided on the second protective wall, which has a retaining device such as a railing on its entire circumference. This web extends in an advantageous development of the invention over the entire length of the protective wall and is mounted so that it can be reached from the opening.

In this way, the outside of the gondola z. B. accessible for repair and / or maintenance and cleaning. As far as the second protective wall is present, the web can be limited on one side by this protective wall and there can be dispensed with a restraint device.

Particularly preferably, a second web is provided on the first protective wall, which runs parallel to the first web. This second web also has a retaining device on the sides not adjacent to the first protective wall.

Further preferably, at least one outer end of the first and the second web, a transversely extending web may be provided, which bridges the distance of the substantially parallel extending first and second webs.

In order to allow an unobstructed entry and exit of the nacelle, the transverse web can be pivoted at one of its end faces and pivoted about the pivot axis upwards to release the passage for the nacelle. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, such transverse webs are pivotally hinged at both ends of the first web or the second web and thus allow reaching each side of the nacelle from the outside.

The distance of the transverse webs from each other is preferably selected so that it substantially corresponds to the corresponding dimension of the nacelle. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the transverse webs is displaceable along its pivot axis, so that the distance between the transverse webs is variable and so adaptable to the respective requirements.

At least one tower of a wind turbine can preferably be provided under the shelter a lifting device on the one hand, the handling of heavy cargo and on the other hand, the handling of the nacelle or nacelle parts, eg. B. for repair purposes allowed. By such a load lifting device, the entire nacelle can be raised with a suitable design, so that the bottom of the nacelle is accessible from the webs for repair, maintenance and cleaning purposes.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention may be provided instead of webs a suitably fixed, one- or multi-part work platform to reach the outer sides of the nacelle. For this purpose, the base of the work platform may have a minimum size, which allows an all-round access to the gondola from the outside.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, a work basket or a work platform can be provided, which can be moved or swiveled such that the outer sides of the cable can be reached. In this case, the work platform, as well as the work platform is enclosed on all sides by a retaining device to prevent inadvertent crash of working on the platform or the stage staff.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the door is larger than. The nacelle cross-section and the cable guide extends into the Tower of wind turbine inside. For this purpose, at least one switch is provided at each tower in the course of the cable connection. In this way, the nacelle can drive through the open door into the tower and there be loaded and / or unloaded regardless of the weather.

A transport of persons and goods, which is essentially protected from the effects of the weather, is realized by a closed gondola. Here, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the nacelle is formed so that it has a closable exit opening through which the guide with which the nacelle is suspended and guided on the cable connection, can be reached.

In order to avoid a loss of the nacelle in the event of a crash of a nacelle, the nacelle is preferably buoyant and may have signal means such as signal pistols, torches or the like and buoyancy aids such as self-inflating floating rings. These buoyancy aids increase the buoyancy of the nacelle so that it remains buoyant even when loaded. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gondola has Aufrichthilfen that make it difficult to turn the gondola at least or even prevent.

In order to realize an operation monitoring or an at least partially automated control of the cableway, a central control device and a plurality of sensors and / or actuators are provided. In this case, the sensors and / or actuators can be connected via an interface with the central control device.

The central control device can thus on the one hand by connected sensors on the one hand certain operating parameters and conditions such. B. the position of the nacelle, the vehicle speed, the horizontal deflection, the nacelle weight, the rotational speed of a flywheel, the energy supply, engine operating data, the openings in the towers (closed, open, ...), etc., capture. Of course, telematics data from sensors in the nacelle of a wind turbine can be detected and processed.

The intended actuators allow the central control unit to influence operating parameters and states. This can be z. As the control of the lock between the nacelle and tower depending on the position of the nacelle relative to the tower or the control of the lighting under the canopy, as well as the control of a position control (if provided on the towers and / or other parts of the wind farm is) depending on the brightness or the automatic release or operation of doors or the influence on the speed of the gondola to stop.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the control may be decentralized. For this purpose, separate controls may be provided in at least two of the facilities of a wind farm, which communicate with each other and with the nacelle. In this way also operating parameters and states can be detected and evaluated. In this case, each controller can be connected to a predefinable part of the sensors and / or actuators. An advantage of this decentralized solution is the existing redundancy, so that in case of failure of a control unit adjacent control units can take over their functions.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, supporting masts are provided between wind turbines of a wind farm, which carry the cable connection and thus avoid excessive slack of the cable connection between the towers and the associated load, resulting in large span widths between the towers of the wind turbines Wind farms can result.

The wind farm according to the invention is preferably equipped with at least one residence area for accommodating at least one person. In this case, this location area is preferably spatially divided into different functional areas such as a sanitary area and / or a kitchen area and / or a storage area and / or a rest area and is particularly preferably integrated into the tower of a wind energy plant.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, however, the occupied area is arranged separately from the wind turbines within the wind farm. This can be z. B. on a separate platform or preferably on a mounted on a tower of a wind turbine platform.

This platform can realize other functions such as that of a helipad and / or a jetty.

Due to the limited footprint within the tower, the residence area is distributed in a preferred embodiment of the invention to a plurality of interconnected levels within the tower. In this case, devices for communication and signaling of predetermined data are provided within the location area. This signaling may include audible and visual signaling as well as recording of the data in a suitable manner.

The communication includes voice and / or data communication on wired or wireless communication paths, on the one hand with remote stations outside the wind farm, such as remote operation or maintenance centers, and on the other hand with remote stations within the wind farm, such as other wind turbines or the cable car gondola.

In addition, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication also includes the influencing of predetermined operating parameters of the wind farm installations as well as monitoring of the wind farm operation and its control. In this way, a continuously occupied guard station can be created in the wind farm according to the invention, which can react immediately in case of disturbances and take or initiate appropriate measures.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a water treatment plant for drinking and service water supply of personnel is provided, which is operated with generated electricity in the wind farm. It can be used to bridge supply gaps, z. B. by a doldrums, a suitably dimensioned energy storage may be provided to maintain at least one emergency operation to supply the residence area with energy and water.

As an energy storage while electrical storage such as capacitors, chemical storage such as accumulators or hydrogen storage can be used, which are charged with hydrogen, which is obtained by electrolysis of sea water, and from the back in a fuel cell electrical energy can be recovered.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the wind energy installation equipped with the residence area comprises devices for weather observation or for acquisition, evaluation, recording and / or forwarding of meteorological data. Furthermore, the wind turbine or other (all) facilities of the wind farm functions a Navigation aid for shipping z. B. in the form of a sea sign or as a station for the (first) supply of victims or shipwrecked take over.

In a development, at least one equipped with a residence area wind turbine on a viewing platform, which is provided below the machine house on the tower of the wind turbine. This viewing platform may completely or at least partially surround the tower of the wind turbine in a preferred direction and be equipped with windows that allow observation of the environment. Furthermore, this viewing platform can in turn be equipped with devices for signaling data, for influencing given operating parameters and / or for communication. The wind turbine with the observation deck is placed within the wind farm so that a maximum number of (preferably all) wind farm facilities can be seen from there.

In this case, the observation platform can be provided in spatial proximity to the residence area or integrated into it. Alternatively, the observation deck and the dwelling area may be spatially separated, and the dwelling area is located below the dome platform in the area of the base of the tower to allow for a more generous dimension of the dwelling while the viewing platform is located just below the dome, to allow good observation of the surroundings enable.

At a large distance between the viewing platform and the lounge area, an elevator may be provided within the tower to save time on the one hand, and on the other hand to limit the physical workload of the staff, as the distance between the observation deck and the lounge area is repeated several times a day. It can the elevator should at least be equipped with an emergency call device in order to be able to call for help in the event of a fault.

Fig. 1

eine erste Variante der Seilführung in einem Windpark;

Fig. 2

eine zweite Variante der Seilführung in einem Windpark;

Fig. 3

eine dritte Variante der Seilführung in einem Windpark;

Fig. 4

den Verlauf der Seilverbindung zwischen zwei Windenergieanlagen;

Fig. 5

eine alternative Seilanordnung;

Fig. 6

Aufhängung und Antrieb der Gondel mittels Tragseil und Zugseil;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf eine Windenergieanlage mit einem Schutzdach; und

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht des Turmes mit dem Schutzdach.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail. Showing:

Fig. 1

a first variant of the rope guide in a wind farm;

Fig. 2

a second variant of the rope guide in a wind farm;

Fig. 3

a third variant of the cable guide in a wind farm;

Fig. 4

the course of the cable connection between two wind turbines;

Fig. 5

an alternative cable arrangement;

Fig. 6

Suspension and propulsion of the nacelle by means of carrying cable and traction cable;

Fig. 7

a plan view of a wind turbine with a protective roof; and

Fig. 8

a side view of the tower with the shelter.

Figure 1 shows a wind farm with nine wind turbines 12. These wind turbines 12 are arranged in three rows, each with three systems 12 and connected by a cable connection 10 with each other such that the nacelle 14, the individual wind turbines 12 can achieve one after the other. The nacelle 14 thus happens when driving from one end point of the cable connection 10 to the other end point of the cable connection 10 always all the wind turbines 12 of the wind farm.

In this case, the cable connection 10 may be guided in an endless loop, on which the nacelle 14 is fixedly arranged. By moving the rope, it is thus necessary for the gondola 14 to move as well.

If the endless loop is in a substantially horizontal plane, the cable drive can be done in the simplest case in an always constant direction and the nacelle 14 moves after passing the deflection point to the horizontal dimension of the endless loop offset in the opposite direction.

However, since this also applies when traveling from a wind energy plant 12 to a wind energy plant 12 which is opposite to the direction of travel, it may be necessary for all the wind turbines of the wind farm to pass, so that the gondola has to cover the length of the cable connection almost twice.

If the nacelle 14 is located, for example, at the wind energy installation 12 designated A, and should now travel to the installation designated B, it must first travel as far as the wind energy installation 12 designated C and from there back to the target installation B in unidirectional cable drive. It passes approximately twice the cable connection in its entire length.

If it is possible to drive the cable connection in two directions, it is sufficient to move the direction of travel from A to B and to travel briefly between two systems.

In a substantially running in a vertical plane endless loop of the cable connection 10, a drive of the cable connection 10 in two directions is absolutely necessary, otherwise fixed to the cable connection 10 connected gondola 14 at the latest at the reversal point of the endless loop in a dangerous situation would come.

Therefore, sensors 44 are provided in the figure at the wind turbines designated B and C, which detect reaching this position by the nacelle 14, and thus can trigger a stopping or turning operation. For simplicity, these sensors are shown as switches. Of course, other types of sensors such. B. Hall sensors, optical sensors, etc. to determine whether the nacelle 14 has reached this position. The position of the sensors is of course chosen so that the loaded gondola 14 is a sufficient stopping distance available.

FIG. 2 likewise shows a wind farm with nine wind turbines 12, which are arranged in three rows, each with three wind turbines 12. Here is a central system 12 is provided, the z. B. may have special application and storage facilities. From this central wind turbine 12 cable connections 10 run in a star shape to all other wind turbines 12 of the wind farm. This results in the shortest possible ways to reach the other wind turbines 12 - each starting from the central system 12 for the (not shown in this figure) nacelle 14.

However, a journey from a non-central wind turbine 12 to another, also non-central wind turbine 12 always leads first to the central wind turbine 12 and further to the desired target wind turbine 12.

In this figure, a support mast 11 is further shown on a cable connection 10. This support mast 11 carries the cable connection 10 and thereby prevents For large span lengths between two wind turbines 12 too large sag of the cable connection 10th

This sag results from the weight of the cable connection. Depending on the properties of the cable connection 10 results in a maximum distance between two bases for the cable connection 10, when exceeded, the cable connection 10 can already tear by its own weight. But even at a shorter distance, the sag of the cable connection 10 may already be too large and the nacelle 14 come too close to the water surface.

This could theoretically be counteracted by a higher tension in the cable connection 10. But then it comes z. B. as a result of cold to a higher voltage in the cable connection 10, the tensile strength can be exceeded and the cable connection 10 breaks. That is, a certain, material-dependent sag of the cable connection 10 is unavoidable, but by the use of support poles 11, these problems can be solved.

Figure 3 shows the same arrangement of the wind turbines 12 as Figures 1 and 2. The difference is again in the leadership of the cable connection 10 between the wind turbines 12. This is formed in the present Figure 3 reticulated, so that each wind turbine 12 forms a node. This cable guide results in shorter distances for individual routes, over which the (not shown in the figure) nacelle 14 can reach individual wind turbines 12.

Also in this figure, a support mast 11 is provided in a large tension field between two wind turbines 12 in order to limit the slack and the tension in the cable connection 10. In this case, the use of support poles 11 is of course in every section of the cable connection 10 between two wind turbines 12 possible to gain additional carrying points for the cable connection 10.

In Figure 4, two wind turbines 12 are shown, which are interconnected by a cable connection 10. The upper portions of the towers are omitted in the figure, but the lower edge of the rotor circle is shown by a dashed line 30. Each of the towers has a closable with a door opening 18, from each of which a ladder 32 is provided to the tower base. In this case, the opening 18 is provided in the tower in the height in which the nacelle 14 reaches the tower.

At each tower above the opening 18, a deflection device 16 is provided, through which the cable connection 10 is guided. Depending on the embodiment of the cable connection 10, the nacelle 14 is carried by the cable connection and / or moved, or the nacelle 14 moves on its own power along the cable connection 10.

In the example shown, a drive motor 15, which can move the cable connection 10 in a suitable manner in the case of a non-self-propelled gondola 14, is located on a tower of a wind power plant 12 above the deflection roller 16.

In the lower part of the nacelle 14 there is an additional compartment 26 which is separated from it by the bottom of the nacelle basket. In this additional compartment 26 is a flywheel 28 which is held at a high rotational speed by a motor drive to its dashed axis of rotation. As a result of the rotation, the flywheel 28 acts as a gyro and stabilizes the gondola 14 in its position by counteracting vertical deflection of the gondola 14. This will make the ride the nacelle 14 stabilized even when occurring transversely to the direction of the wind and the gondola is deflected only to a limited extent.

The illustration in Figure 5 also shows two towers of wind turbines 12, the upper sections have been omitted in the figure. The lower part of the rotor circuit 30 is again shown. In the towers, the closable openings 18 are shown in the height in which the nacelle 14 reaches the wind turbine 12.

Above the opening 18 are deflection devices 16, through which the cable connection 10 is guided. At this cable connection 10, the nacelle 14 is arranged and can be moved between the wind turbines.

Below the openings 18 deflection devices 16 are also provided. These additional deflection devices 16, a further cable connection is performed as tether 24. This tether 24 extends in a predetermined vertical distance 25 parallel to the cable connection 10 and guides the nacelle 14. In this way, the horizontal deflection of the nacelle 14 is limited because it is guided both above and below by ropes 10, 24

The possible horizontal deflection of the nacelle 14 varies depending on the distance to the next wind turbine 12. With decreasing distance between nacelle 14 and wind turbine 12, the effect of the deflecting devices 16 increases and the possible horizontal deflection of the nacelle 14 is correspondingly low, while with increasing distance between the nacelle 14 and a wind turbine 12, the slack of the cable connection 10 and the tether 24 increases. In the middle of the distance between two wind turbines 12, the slack is the largest and thus the greatest possible horizontal deflection of the nacelle 14 possible.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the enclosed in Figure 4 and Figure 5 by a dashed circle cutouts. The cable connection 10 is formed by two cables 20, 22. The upper cable 20 is provided as a supporting cable and carries the gondola 14 movably arranged thereon with two guide rollers 46. The lower cable 22 is a traction cable and is firmly connected to the nacelle 14. By pressing this pull cable 22 now the nacelle 14 can be moved hanging on the support cable.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a wind turbine 12 (FIG. 7) or a part of the tower of the wind turbine 12 (FIG. 8) with a cover 34 arranged substantially horizontally thereon. FIG. 7 is a plan view and FIG. 8 is a side view.

Below this cover 34 extends the cable connection 10, the suspension is not shown here for the sake of clarity. At the two parallel to the cable connection 10 extending sides of the cover 34 each protective walls 36 are arranged.

Together with the cover 34, these protective walls 36 form a protective roof which protects the nacelle 14 and the opening 18 in the tower of the wind turbine 12 from the effects of the weather. In this case, this protective cover extends on both sides of the opening 18 parallel to the cable connection 10th

Since a horizontal deflection of the nacelle 14 while traveling between two wind turbines 12, albeit limited in magnitude and direction, is always possible, the outer ends of the protective roof are widened. The distance of the protective walls 36 increases in predetermined portions of the canopy with increasing distance from the opening 18th to. In the middle section near the opening 18, the dimensions of the canopy may be substantially the same as that of the pod 14.

Due to the greater distance between the protective walls 36, the nacelle 14, even if they z. B. is deflected horizontally by crosswind, are moved between the protective walls and thus in the slipstream. By this slipstream, the nacelle 14 is no longer deflected and therefore can then the distance of the protective walls 36, 38 become smaller.

On the protective walls 36, 38 elastic coatings 48 are provided in the entrance area, which should dampen a collision of the nacelle 14 with the protective walls 36, 38 so that at least no significant damage occurs. Regardless of these coatings 48 on the protective walls 36, 38 corresponding coatings z. B. may be provided in the form of fenders on the nacelle 14.

Another embodiment (not shown) is a wind farm with an offshore platform and the wind turbines of the wind farm. For reasons of simplification, the cable connection between the wind turbines is not shown among each other (see FIG. 3 or FIG. 2). As can be seen here, there is a cable connection between the offshore platform and at least one wind turbine, which is assigned to the platform centrally in the wind farm. It also lends itself to (see Figure 2) star-shaped training of the cable connection between the platform and the wind turbines, the platform then forms in the center of the forming Stemverbundes.

As with previously known offshore oil rigs, all those devices that allow longer stays of people on the platform can be accommodated on the platform. These include, in particular, living rooms, bedrooms, lounges and all others Facilities that also allow a stay of several weeks for the maintenance and operating personnel of the wind farm.

In addition, the platform itself may also be provided with an electrolysis device (this may also be formed on a separate platform) so that by means of the electricity generated by the wind turbines of the wind farm by electrolysis of water into its components oxygen and hydrogen is decomposed. Both gases, in each case the hydrogen gas, are then stored in gas tanks formed in the platform or separately therefor, or the generated gas is piped to shore. If the gas is stored on the platforms, it can be picked up by appropriate transport vessels.

The particular advantage of such hydrogen production is that a fluctuating due to the fluctuating wind conditions electricity production is not significant, because always a sufficient buffer is formed by the gas tanks, which allows a continuous gas transport with fluctuating production.

Since the production of hydrogen gas, produced from water, anyway makes sense only through renewable electricity, can be provided with the wind farm, a very large production capacity, since the provided in the electric wind farm power in the range of several megawatts, preferably more than 500 MW.

The platforms themselves are regularly so large that they are equipped with a special helicopter landing pad, so that the transport of people to the wind farm can be carried out by helicopter transport and the landing of helicopters on the platforms due to their large areas is relatively safe ,

The cable car connection according to the invention between the platforms and at least one wind energy plant also has the advantage that in the event of an accident on the living platform, the staff can still settle for wind turbine and there is safe for the time being.

In order to avoid a collision of the gondola with possibly occurring shipping traffic, the nacelle and / or the ropes are also equipped with an anti-collision light, which is forced on at least one moving gondola forcibly and thus attracts a very high attention in the event of any traffic occurring.

In addition, technical devices may also be provided which allow to detect the distance of the nacelle to an obstacle, i. via radar or through ultrasound.

To get a certain early warning, z. B. also the limits of the wind farm and the wind farm sections are monitored for the entrance of a watercraft out. This can be done by optical monitoring means or again by radars or the like. In conjunction with this, if a ship enters the wind farm for the nacelle, a forced control can be activated which forces a start-up of the nearest wind energy plant, so that a collision can be reliably ruled out. At the same time, it is also possible to transmit via certain radio channels, e.g. standardized alarm messages are transmitted to the ship's command in order to alert them to the danger of this situation.

In order to help in case of need also damaged seafarers or water sports enthusiasts by means of the gondola, the gondolas can also be equipped with safety devices such as Jacob's ladder, winches for rescue seats or the like, a first aid equipment or the like.

Especially for shipwrecked in the field of wind farm and the platform can be a life-saving measure, especially if a man injured or undercooled on the high seas on the platform is so far supplied that already a first recovery can occur. For this purpose, it is advantageous if a minimum medical equipment is also present on the platform, so that a first medical care or minimum care can be guaranteed.

Claims (77)

1. Offshore wind farm having at least one offshore platform within the wind farm, wherein the platform is suitable for providing living and accommodation space for the operating personnel of the wind farm and wherein a cable connection and a gondola suspended from that cable connection is constructed between the platform and at least one wind turbine of the wind farm.
2. Wind farm according to claim 1,
   characterised in that a spare parts store for the most important wearing parts of the wind turbine is constructed on the offshore platform and the transport of those parts to the wind turbines is effected via the cableway connection.
3. Wind farm according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the platform is equipped with an electrolysis system which is supplied with electricity by the wind turbines, wherein by means of the electrolysis the constituents hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from water.
4. Wind farm according to claim 3,
   characterised in that the offshore platform has one or more gas tanks in which the gas produced (H₂; O₂) is stored.
5. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised by at least two wind turbines and a cable connection (10) extending between at least two wind turbines (12) at a predefined height, and a gondola (14) disposed on that cable connection (10).
6. Wind farm according to claim 5,
   characterised by a cable connection (10) extending in the form of an endless cable via deflection devices (16) on the wind turbines (12) and/or the platform and by a rigid connection between the cable connection (10) and the gondola (14).
7. Wind farm according to claim 5,
   characterised by a cable connection (10) comprising a carrying cable (20) and a traction cable (22) and by a gondola (14) that is movably disposed on the carrying cable (20) and fixedly connected to the traction cable (22).
8. Wind farm according to claim 7,
   characterised by a traction cable (22) extending in the form of an endless cable along the deflection device (16).
9. Wind farm according to either claim 7 or claim 8,
   characterised by a deflection device (16) having two deflection pulleys which are rotatable independently of each other.
10. Wind farm according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
    characterised by the traction cable (22) being driven by a motor.
11. Wind farm according to claim 5,
    characterised by a gondola (14) that moves along the cable connection (10) under its own power.
12. Wind farm according to claim 11,
    characterised by at least one motor drive for moving the gondola (14) along the cable connection (10), wherein the drive is preferably an electric drive.
13. Wind farm according to claim 12,
    characterised by the gondola drive being supplied with driving energy from an energy supply that is carried in the gondola (14).
14. Wind farm according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
    characterised by at least one manually operable drive for moving the gondola (14) along the cable connection (10).
15. Wind farm according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
    characterised by a remotely controllable drive for moving the gondola (14).
16. Wind farm according to claim 15,
    characterised by use of at least part of the cable connection (10) as an electrical conductor.
17. Wind farm according to claim 16,
    characterised by an electrical cable integrated in the cable connection (10).
18. Wind farm according to any one of claims 5 to 17,
    characterised by a star-shaped arrangement of cable connections (10) between a predefined wind turbine (12) or the platform and the rest of the wind turbines (12).
19. Wind farm according to any one of claims 5 to 17,
    characterised by a network-like arrangement of cable connections (10) between the wind turbines (12), wherein each wind turbine (12) or the platform forms a node in the network.
20. Wind farm according to any one of claims 5 to 17,
    characterised by a single cable connection (10) between the wind turbines (12) of the wind farm, which cable connection (10) connects at least some of the wind turbines (12) to one another in a predefinable sequence.
21. Wind farm according to any one of claims 18 to 20,
    characterised by a combination of at least two of the mentioned configurations of the cable connections (10).
22. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a releasable locking device between the gondola (14) and the tower of a wind turbine (12).
23. Wind farm according to claim 22,
    characterised by a locking device in the form of retaining magnets.
24. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a stay wire (24) extending at a predefined distance (25) from and parallel to the cable connection (10).
25. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a cable connection (10) extending at a predefined horizontal distance from the tower of the wind turbine (12) and/or by a stay wire (24) extending at a predefined horizontal distance from the tower.
26. Wind farm according to either claim 24 or claim 25,
    characterised by deflection devices (16) on the wind turbines (12) for the stay wire (24).
27. Wind farm according to any one of claims 24 to 26,
    characterised in that the cable connection (10) is in the form of an endless cable and the stay wire (24) is part of that endless cable.
28. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a gondola (14) having a flywheel mass (28) that rotates about a vertical axis.
29. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a closable opening (18) in the tower of a wind turbine (12) at the height where the gondola (14) reaches the tower.
30. Wind farm according to claim 29,
    characterised by a locking device on the tower, close to the opening (18) and at the level of the gondola.
31. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a cover (34) which extends substantially horizontally and is disposed above the opening (18) on the tower of at least one wind turbine (12).
32. Wind farm according to claim 31,
    characterised by a first protective wall (36) which extends substantially vertically and at a predefined distance from and parallel to the cable connection (10) and which is disposed on the side of the cover (34) remote from the tower.
33. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by at least one second protective wall (38) which is disposed on the tower of the wind turbine (12) at the level of the opening (18) and which extends substantially parallel to the cable connection (10).
34. Wind farm according to claim 33,
    characterised by a two-part second protective wall (38) which extends to a predefined length on both sides of the opening (18).
35. Wind farm according to any one of claims 32 to 34,
    characterised by a distance between the first protective wall (36) and the second protective wall (38) that becomes greater in a predefined portion away from the opening (18).
36. Wind farm according to any one of claims 32 to 35,
    characterised by a resilient covering (48) of a predefined thickness on at least one of the protective walls (36, 38).
37. Wind farm according to any one of claims 31 to 36,
    characterised by at least one lighting device on the cover (34) and/or on the protective walls (36, 38).
38. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by at least one gangway which is accessible from the opening (18) and which extends substantially parallel to the cable connection (10) and has at least one restraint device along its entire length.
39. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a single- or multi-part work platform outside the tower of at least one wind turbine (12), which work platform is accessible from the opening (18).
40. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a man-carrying platform accessible from the opening (18) or by a work cage outside the tower of at least one wind turbine (12).
41. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding daims,
    characterised by at least a first guide rail (40) which is arranged on the tower of the wind turbine (12) close to the opening (18) and which extends substantially parallel to the cable connection (10).
42. Wind farm according to claim 41,
    characterised by a second guide rail (42) which extends at a predefined distance from and substantially parallel to the first guide rail (40).
43. Wind farm according to either claim 41 or claim 42,
    characterised by a distance between the first guide rail (40) and the second guide rail (42) that becomes greater in a predefined portion away from the opening.
44. Wind farm according to any one of claims 41 to 43,
    characterised in that the guide rails (40, 42) support the protective walls (36).
45. Wind farm according to any one of claims 29 to 44,
    characterised in that the closable opening (18) is larger than the gondola (14), and the cable connection (10) passes through the opening (18) and into the tower of the wind turbine (12).
46. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by at least one set of points in the course of the cable connection (10) at each tower.
47. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by load-lashing equipment and lashing means in the gondola (14).
48. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a load hoisting device on or in the gondola (14) for handling the load.
49. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a load hoisting and/or transport apparatus on or in the tower of at least one wind turbine (12).
50. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a gondola (14) with an enclosed gondola cabin.
51. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a resilient coating of the gondola (14) at at least one site where the risk of collision with other installations of the wind farm is greatest.
52. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a buoyant gondola (14).
53. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the resilient covering at the same time serves as a float.
54. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a control device having a central control unit, sensors and/or actuators.
55. Wind farm according to claim 54,
    characterised by the central control unit being disposed in one of the wind turbines (12) or on a platform of the wind farm.
56. Wind farm according to either claim 54 or claim 55,
    characterised by at least one sensor that detects when the gondola (14) passes by.
57. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by a GPS module disposed in the gondola.
58. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the electrical energy generated in the wind farm is used as the driving energy for the electric drives.
59. Wind farm according to claim 58,
    characterised in that the energy is taken off optionally at the generator, at a d.c. link or at another suitable point.
60. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that energy is transported within the wind farm at least partially in a form other than an electrical form.
61. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by masts (11) for supporting the cable connection (10), which masts (11) are disposed between the towers of the wind turbines (12) and adjacent to the cable connection (10).
62. Method for controlling the cable car system provided at least between two wind turbines of a wind farm,
    characterised by evaluation by the central control unit of the situation detected by the sensors and by the triggering of suitable control signals for the actuators.
63. Method according to claim 62,
    characterised by the transmission to the central control unit of GPS data and/or data encoded in another form which indicate the position of the gondola (14).
64. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by at least one wind turbine (12) having an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person.
65. Wind farm according to claim 64,
    characterised by the accommodation area being equipped with a sanitary area and/or a kitchen area and/or a supplies area and/or a rest area.
66. Wind farm according to either claim 64 or claim 65,
    characterised by the accommodation area being integrated in the tower of a wind turbine (12).
67. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 66,
    characterised by the accommodation area being disposed in a plurality of interconnected levels.
68. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 67,
    characterised by a device for signalling predefined data and/or a device for influencing predefined operating parameters inside the accommodation area.
69. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 68,
    characterised by a communications device for exchanging information and/or data.
70. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 69,
    characterised by a water treatment system for supplying the personnel with drinking water and service water.
71. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 70,
    characterised by energy stores for storing energy for the purpose of bridging gaps in supply.
72. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 71,
    characterised by instruments for weather observation or for collecting, evaluating, recording and/or forwarding meteorological data.
73. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 72,
    characterised in that at least the wind turbine having the accommodation area has navigation aids for shipping and/or facilities for caring for injured or shipwrecked persons.
74. Wind farm according to any one of claims 64 to 73,
    characterised by a viewing platform which surrounds the tower of the wind turbine having the accommodation area, completely or at least partially in a preferred direction, beneath the machine house.
75. Wind farm according to claim 74,
    characterised in that the viewing platform has windows at least in parts, which windows enable the surroundings of the wind turbine to be observed.
76. Wind farm according to either claim 74 or claim 75,
    characterised by a lift between the accommodation area and the viewing platform.
77. Wind farm according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the platform is a discarded/used oil or gas drilling/production platform.

Images